Experimenting With the Near Impossible...Wish Me Luck!

[livinlifeinBKK]

It dawned on me today after buying a Porites coral with Spirobranchus giganteus (Christmas Tree Worms) that it should technically be possible to breed them and have them spread. Since they're so sought after and command such a high price, a breakthrough like this could really help a lot of hobbyists get their hands on these beautiful creatures. Now I know this seems impossible but I'm going to see just how feasible it may or may not be. Since they reproduce sexually, (meaning there are both male and female worms) under the right conditions there should be a spawning event. These things are very interesting to me and hey, what do I have to lose? The worst that could happen is gain a lot of knowledge into the biology of these beautiful inverts! Here's the piece I ordered just to show you guys.

 

[A Young reefer]

Good luck, this will definitely be challenging.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Good luck, this will definitely be challenging.

Hey, if it weren't a challenge what would be the point?

 

[lopez052308]

Definitely following along!! Always wanted one of these guys. Hope you are successful!

 

[Goaway]

I pray for your success. As I do love these inverts.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I pray for your success. As I do love these inverts.

So many people do but the price puts them far out of reach for most people unfortunately

 

[Goaway]

Also. These worms will live with cyhpastrea corals. I don't know if the color of cyphastrea matters. Let me dig up a pic of the colony i wanted

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Also. These worms will live with cyhpastrea corals. I don't know if the color of cyphastrea matters. Let me dig up a pic of the colony i wanted

I think it's species dependent but i could be mistaken...here in Thailand diving I always see Porites corals hosting them so I think that's likely their preference

 

[Goaway]

I think, since larvae as all larvae would be released into the water column. Multiple places to attach would be needed. I dont know their life stages though.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I think, since larvae as all larvae would be released into the water column. Multiple places to attach would be needed. I dont know their life stages though.
View attachment 3152521

Wow that looks like an expensive piece!

 

[Goaway]

Wow that looks like an expensive piece!

It was close to 500. Very expensive. I didn't want to give up my copperband. And not ready to make a new system.

350 or 450. I forget which.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

It was close to 500. Very expensive. I didn't want to give up my copperband. And not ready to make a new system.

Can't blame you for not making the purchase...you gotta draw a line somewhere and if you've never kept them before and don't know how they'll do in your system, $500 is a big gamble

 

[Goaway]

Can't blame you for not making the purchase...you gotta draw a line somewhere and if you've never kept them before and don't know how they'll do in your system, $500 is a big gamble

I kept them for 5 years. I kind of have a good idea on how to keep them. Just not spawn them. We spoke before about them.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

O

I kept them for 5 years. I kind of have a good idea on how to keep them. Just not spawn them. We spoke before about them.

Oh sorry! I forgot we talked about it!

 

[Goaway]

No worries. You live in place you can just go gather mud from the ocean. I don't get that luxury in my location. And ocean mud is extremely expensive as of now

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

No worries. You live in place you can just go gather mud from the ocean. I don't get that luxury in my location. And ocean mud is extremely expensive as of now

Not many oceans in Illinois...have you looked at AF Life Source? It's a good product.

 

[Goaway]

Not many oceans in Illinois...have you looked at AF Life Source? It's a good product.

I will look. Thank you!

 

[A Young reefer]

O

Oh sorry! I forgot we talked about it!

I wouldn’t blame you it took me some time to figure out that @Goaway is mibu

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I will look. Thank you!

It's collected near the reefs in Fiji...I've used it myself. I'd absolutely get some and mail it to you but the postage would probably be rather expensive...

 

[Goaway]

Yup... i had 15lbs of mud in a 29g tank as a fuge. 15lbs of lufe soyrce will be ouch...